Antonio Rudiger had become a bit of a maligned figure at Real Madrid over the past two seasons, as the appreciation for his dominance in the 2023/24 season as the Merengues captured the La Liga and Champions League titles had begun to fade with Real going trophyless in back to back campaigns.
Although his aggression was very much an asset when Real Madrid shut down shop against treble winning striker and former dream transfer target Erling Haaland and Manchester City in the 2024 Champions League knockout stages, they had started to become a nuisance, both in terms of defensive errors and disciplinary issues.
Rudiger became a quiet liability in the starting lineup, and many were truly wondering whether or not an incoming Jose Mourinho and even the Real Madrid brass would want to keep the aging, declining center back on the books.
Antonio Rudiger had a grand game against Malaga
But Real Madrid did offer Rudiger a one year contract extension, and, in hindsight, it's a great thing they did. Because Jose struck out on all his center back transfer targets aside from free agent Ibrahima Konate, who has settled in wonderfully as the starter across from young Dean Huijsen.
Once Eder Militao returns from his injury, Antonio Rudiger will be the fourth choice center back at Real Madrid, which is actually a great role for him. And in this role, there are few better options to come in and help the team.
Rudiger got his chance to start next to Huijsen for Real Madrid against Malaga, and unlike last season, the duo actually worked out fantastically. While Huijsen soaked up much of the praise from the fan base, Rudiger actually had an even better game.
Perhaps it was more fatigue than anything else that hurt him these last two seasons, because the German international was brilliant in his reading of the game, putting his body on the line, too, to blcok two shots.
On the ball, he was even more crisp and bossing the game from the back than Dean Huijsen, and it is difficult to remember a single misplaced pass from the veteran center back. As competition for places heats up, Rudiger just sent a message to Jose Mourinho in this 4-0 clean sheet win vs. Malaga that he is still a top option for the team both on and off the ball, and while Mou may not trust him in the biggest games, he is still a useful deputy to Real Madrid and one of the better all around center backs in Europe.
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